Apparatus for drilling wells



A rzifi m H933 H. A. PEPPHN 3,994,522

APPARATUS FOR DRILLING WELLS Filed Nov. 11, 1931. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwmnto'a April 18, 1933. H. A. PiPPm APPARATUS FOR DRILLI NG WELLS Filed Nov. 11, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 formed respectively in the ends of the ring,

one of said grooves being shown in Figure 5.

The drilling device further comprises similar hollow members 34 one at each end of the ring F. Each of these members is formed of a wall 35 having a spherical curvature and a fiat wall 36, the latter wall being located adjacent the related end of the ring F. On

each fiat wall 36 I provide a groove forma- 19 tion 37 in which are engaged respectively ribs 38 and 39 on the interior face of the ring and whereby rotative connections between the members 34 and the ring F are provided, such rotation of the members 34 being on an axis transversely of the casing of the apparatus as will be obvious. Suitable anti-friction elements 40 are interposed between the ribs 38 and 39 and the walls of the formations 37, said elements being shown mounted so on the latter. In the flat wall 36 of each member 34 I provide an annular series of openings 41 positioned to overlie the related groove 33 as each member 34 is rotated. On the ring F diametrically opposite the nipple 29 I provide a drill head 42 a part of which is integral with the ring section and a similar part integral with the ring section 26, the neck of said drill head 42 being encompassed by the band 28. It will be apgarent that the drill head 42 is rendered e ective by rotation of the drilling device as a whole on the axis of the casing. Drill teeth 43 of any desired form are provided on the outer faces of the head 42, ring F and members 34. The walls 35 of the members 34 are provided with numerous perforations 44 for a purpose that will presently appear.

The structure by which the members 34 are rotated in opposite directions on an axis transversely of the casing comprises a bevel pinion 45 fixed on shaft 22, a bevel pinion 46 fixed on shaft 19 and bevel ring gears 47 fixed respectively on the walls 36 of members 34 and with both of which ring gears each pinion 45 and 46 meshes. The motors D and E are constructed to rotate their respective shafts 19 and 22 in opposite direct1ons and by reason of the connections between said shafts and the members 34 just described, such rotation of the shafts 19 and 22 will effect rotation of said members 34 in opposite directions on an axis transversely of the casing. This rotation of the members 34 will, during drilling operation, impart rotation to the drilling device as a whole on an axis in alinement with the axis of the casing as shown by arrows in Figure 4. A tie member 48 axially and loosely connects the members 34 and serves as additional means for maintaining assembly of the parts of the drilling device, it being observed that the shaft 19 extends loosely through said tie member.

The interior wall of the upper and lower 65 ends of the casing B are cast in irregular shape to permit effective disposition in the passage 0 of centrifugal pump turbines. By reference to Figure 1 such turbines 50 and 51 are shown fixed on shaft 19 of the armature 17, while in Figure 1a turbines 52 and 53 are shown fixed on the shaft 22 of the armature 18.

1 By reference to Figure 3 it will be observed that conductor wires leadin from a suitable electric source are embedded in the cable 15, suchwires being indicated at 54. From the cable 15, these wires are tapped out and connected to the motors D and E as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

For convenience in assembling the apparatus the casings A and B are built up of sections having overlapping edges and riveted together at such overlap.

In operation the shafts 19 and 20 will be rotated in opposite directions and through connections previously described will rotate the members 34 in opposite directions on an axis transversely of the casing of the apparatus and at the same time the drilling device will rotate as a whole on the axis of the casing of the apparatus, this last rotation and the simultaneous rotation of the members 34 on an axis transversely of the casing of the apparatus serving to produce a highly effective drilling action. As there is considerable water in the shafts of deep wells as drilling proceeds, the apparatus will be entirely submerged and durmg its operation such water will pass through the perforations 14 into the extension 13 and thence into the passage 0 where it is acted on by the centrifugal pump turbines 50, 51, 52 and 53 and forced downwardly through the passage C, passage 32, into grooves 33 and through openings 41 into the interior of the members 34 from whence it is discharged into the well shaft through the perforations 44. This cycle of water movement is continued during the operation of the apparatus and serves not only toclear the drilling device surfaces, but also to suspend the earth drillings in the water and permit their removal by bailing the water carrying the earth in suspension from the shaft.

I claim:

1. A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, two axially alined motors within the casing having armatures rotatable in opposite directions, shafts connected to said armatures respectively, and located in the axis of the casing, a pair of drilling elements, means for supporting said elements from the lower end of the casing for rotation on a common axis transversely of said shafts, and connections between the shafts and the drilling elements for effecting rotation of the latter in opposite directions.

2. A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, two axially alined motors within the casing having armatures rotatable in opposite directions, shafts connected to said armatures respectively and located in the axis of the casing, a pair of drilling elements, means for su porting said elements from the lower end 0 the casing for rotation on a common axis transversely of said shafts and also for bodily revolution about the shafts, and connections between the shafts and drilling elements for effecting rotation of the latter on said common axis in opposite directions.

3. A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, two axially alined motors within the casing having armatur'es rotatable in opposite directions, shafts connected to said armatures respectively and located in the axis of the casing, a ring secured to and depending from the lower end of the casing for rotation on the axis of said casing and into which said shafts project, a drilling element rotatshly mounted on each end of the ring, and connections between the shafts and drilling; element for edecting rotation of the latter in opnosite directions 4, A well drilling apparatus comprising a easing, two axially alined motors within the casing having aimetnres rotatable in oppodirections, connected to said armstures I spectivel located in the axis of the casing, a r ng secured to and depending from. the lows end of the casing for rotation on the axis of casing and into which said shafts project, drilling" element rotatahlv "ed on each end of the ring, conloetvveen shafts and dril i o elees rotation oi the la (er in V nosite directions, said connections com- A well drilling apparatus comprising; a casing, two axially alined motors within the s having iatures rotatahle in oppodirections, shalts connected to said armatures respectively and located in the axis of the casing, a ring secured to and depending from thelovver end of the casing for rotation on the axis of said casing and int-o which said shafts project, a drilling element rotatahly mounted on each end of the ring, connections between the shafts end drilling elements for eilecting rotation of the latter in opposite directions, and a drill element lined to the ring in axial alinement with the casing and said shaits.

'6, A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, two axially alined motors Within the casing having; armatures rotatable in opposite directions, shafts connected to said armatux-es respectively and located in the axis of the casing, a ring secured to and depending from the lower end of the casing for rotation on the anisol said casing, said ring having internal annular rihs at each end, a drilling element at each end of the ring, each of said drillin element being constituted by a portion 0 a sphere, annular groove formations at the inner end of each drilling element receiving the adjacent internal rib of the ring to rotatably connect each drilling'element to the ring, and connections between the shafts and said drilling elements for eilecting rotation of the latter in opposite directions.

7 A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, a drilling device mounted on one end of the casing for rotation on the axis of the latter and including a ring and cutters of spherical curvature mounted on the ends of the ring respectively for rotation on an axis transversely of the casing, and means for rotating said cutters in opposite direc= tions independently of any rotation oi' the ring 8. A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, a drilling device mounted on one end of the casing for rotation on the axis of the latter and including a ring and cutters of spherical curvature mounted on the ends of the ring respectively for rotation on an axis transvcrsely of the. casing, means for rotating said cutters in opposite directions, and means for circulating Water from a well being drilled into the drilling device at one series of points in the latter dischargthe same from the drilling device at another series of points.

9. A Well drilling apparatus comprising casng, a drilling device mounted on one end of the casing for rotation on. the axis of the latter, said device including a ring and cutters mounted on the ends of the ring respectively for rotation on an axis transversely of the casing, and means for rotating said cutters in opposite directions independcntly of any rotation of he rin 10. A Well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, a drilling device mounted on one end of the casing for rotation on the axis of the letter, said device including a ring and cutters mounted on the ends of the ring respectively for rotation on an axis transversely of the casing, means for rotating said cutters in opposite directions, and means for circulating water from a well losing drilled into the drilling device at one series of points of the latter and discharging the same from the drilling device at another series of points.

ll. A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, a drilling device mounted on one end of the casing for rotation on the axis of the letter, said device including a ring and hollow cutters mounted on the ends of the ring respect vely for rotation on an axis transversely of the casing, means for rotat-= ing said cutters in opposite directions, and means for circulating Water from a, well heing drilled through the walls of the cutters adjacent the ring and discharging the same through the remaining walls of said cutters.

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12. A well drilling apparatus comprising a casing, a drilling device mounted on one end of the casing for rotation on the axis of the latter, said device including a rin and hollow cutters mounted on the ends 0 the ring respectively for rotation on an axis transversely of the casing, means for rotating said cutters in opposite directions, each of said cutters including a perforated fiat wall adjacent the ring and a perforated wall of spherical curvature, and means for circulating water from a well being drilled through the body of the ring and the erforations of the flat walls of the cutters into the latter and thence through the perforations of the walls of the cutters having a spherical curvature.

13. A well drilling apparatus comprising an outer casing and an inner casing assembled in spaced relation and the space be tween said cases constituting a portion of a water passage, the upper and lower ends of the outer casing being shaped interiorly to constitute the remainder of said water passage predetermined by the casing, a perforated hollow extension secured to the upper end of the outer casing and having its interior in communication with the upper ends of the water passage, pump devices rotated without the inner casing in the upper and lower ends of said water passage, means for operating said pump devices to pump water through said passage in the direction of its lower end, a drilling device mounted on the lower end of the casing for rotation on the axis of the letter, said device including a ring and hollow cutters mounted on the ends of the ring respectively for rotation on an axis transversely of the casing, means for rotating said cutters in opposite directions, means for conveying water from the lower end of said passage into the interior of the cutters, and means permitting discharge of water from the interior of said cutters to the exterior of the drilling device.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signtaure.

HASKEL A. PIPPIN. 

